11/06/2023
Seeing as my ladies are getting popular again, I want to answer some FAQ!
🌈What kind of birds/chickens are they?
They are silkie chickens. It is a breed of chicken originating from Asia. They are unique due to their feathers and other attributes. They feathers lack the barbs, which causes the fluffy appearance. But this also makes them unable to fly as they don't have the aerodynamic feathering of most birds. They also have grey-bluish to black skin, bones, organs and meat. They have blue ear lobes and polydactyl feet.
🌈Why do some of them have no feathers on their neck? Why do some have curled feathers?
The featherless necks are a genetic trait. They are often called turkens or naked necks for other breeds of chickens. But with silkies it's more common to call them showgirls and st*****rs. Showgirls have a p**f of feathers above their crop (called a bowtie) and st*****rs lack this feathering.
The curly feathers are a result of being frizzled. Frizzles are a type of feather, not a breed. Any chicken breed can have frizzles. Their feathers grow opposite the direction they should giving them a "stuck a fork in a socket" look. My frizzle is also a satin which gives her smoother feathers than the fluffy ones of the other girls.
🌈What dye do you use? Is it safe?
I use OPAWZ pet safe dye. The dye is made with human food grade dyes (the same dye used in Poptarts, cereal, and cake frosting), mixed with conditioning agents to clean and soften coats and in this case feathers. OPAWZ has a wonderful line of different products from temporary color with chalk and blopens. To semi-permanent and permanent dyes. We have been dying once a year for 4 years and at no time have the girls experienced any negative reactions either behaviorally or physically. It's always best to follow the directions of the product and do a test spot before doing the whole animal or seek a professional pet colorist! I do not necessarily recommend dying your chickens (or other pets) without first learning about the products and safety! I am open to help guide you with any questions though to ensure its a positive experience for everyone! Never force this sort of thing on any animal. It shouldn't be a stressful experience. If your chicken(or any pet) does not enjoy being petted, bathed and groomed, this isn't something to put them through.
🌈Isn't it illegal to color chickens/animals?
So that depends on where you live. Always check with your local/state/country laws. Some places there are zero provisions and exceptions to dye. Other places are fully legal. And then some places have specific rules pertaining to ages and agricultural reasons. Remember that just because your state may allow it, your city or county may not so be sure to dot your i's and cross your t's before you pull out the dye bowls! For instance it's illegal to SELL dyed poultry. So I don't dye someone else's birds and of course my girls are not for sale and I never ever color their babies.
🌈Why? What's the purpose?
It honestly started with reading articles on how certain colors can confuse birds of prey. (https://www.colourstudies.com/blog/2017/3/22/purple-poultry)
Purple and pinks seem to be the best colors. I have a family of red shoulder hawks that nest overlooking my home. I have watched multiple generations of hawks hatch and grow. I respect and love them but I don't want them seeing my girls as food. When I started to dye them, they have not attempted, to my knowledge, another attack. In nature, bright colors are a sign of poison and the colors purple and pink are harder for them to see. So they are more "camouflaged" from them. The 2nd reason is it's an ID. If stolen or lost, they would be easy to identify and find.
3rd, it's fun. They do not mind it. It's not uncommon for silkie owners to bathe them and they enjoy the warm blow dryer and towels to the point of "purring" and falling asleep due to being so relaxed. During the dye process they aren't in distress and mostly just want to play with the brushes and jump in my lap.
🌈What color are their eggs?
They lay white/light tan eggs as normal. The dye does not affect them internally in anyway.
🌈How long does the dye last?
It begins to fade over the first weeks but generally it stays long enough till their next molt.
🌈How often do you dye them?
Just once a year. I try to time it well after a molt so their feathers are fully in and they are most comfortable with grooming.
🌈How long does it take to dye each chicken?
Generally up to 45 minutes. I try to keep applying the dye to 5-15 minutes and then 20-30 minutes of "marinating" with the dye on. If we do multiple colors, I apply all colors at once. Once I feel enough dye has been applied, I wrap them in a warm towel as a little chicken burrito and hold them for the wait time. This keeps them from getting a chill as well as keeping them calm. I sometimes put them in an infant sling and carry them this way. They usually fall asleep at this stage. Once finished that step, we rinse with warm water and wrap again in a warm towel and then dry with a warm blow dryer or let air dryer in a warm room.
🌈Can they see?
Yes, their feathers do sometimes grow in front of their eyes, but it's never been a problem for them to see each other, food, water, etc. I periodically give them live crickets and other bugs and they very much have no issue hunting them!
🌈Are they litter box/house trained?
No. Unfortunately due to their biology, it's impossible for them to learn to only defecate in one place or outside. The only time they seem to have any minor control of their 💩 is when broody. They usually won't 💩 much when sitting on eggs, but as soon as they leave the nest, have a big 💩. Other than that, they 💩 whenever they have to without a thought. When the girls are out for public excursions, I use chicken diapers on them or spot clean their stroller constantly.
